Loved, lost and FOUND! (a few more trophies of the past)

Haplocarpha scaposa on the highveld north of Harrismith, Orange Free State

More pictures from the past...most of them plants long gone. A few still cling to my garden with their fingernails...many of these I haven't thought of for years because they were transparencies I no longer use. But thanks to Ann Frazier, who has painstakingly scanned hundreds of old pictures in recent months, they suddenly have a new lease on life--and are found truly again! As I look at these, I remember days long gone and magical scenes in nature and in my garden--many of which will never recur.

Haplocarpha scaposa

Although abundant in the Drakensberg and the Highveld, this wonderful daisy is no longer in our collections. I never saw it growing as happily as it was one October day on the veld north of Harrismith..we stopped our bus to check them out!



Haplopappus (Stenotis) acaulis

One of the most abundant and widespread DYC of the West, I adore this plant where on the alpine tundra of the Sierra Nevada, or sagebrush steppe and desert throughout the intermountain region.

Helichrysum albobrunneum

We grew this for years and harvested lots of seed...but somehow it slipped away...



Helichrysum milfordiae

Another helichrysum that thrives in Scotland and Sweden and not so much for me...abundant in the high Drakensberg...

Helichrysum pagophilum

Abundant in the Black Mountains of Lesothos--this grew everywhere in vast mounds. Not so much for us in the garden however...


Helichrysum retortoides

This one persisted for years...until it didn't. Saw it recently, probably at Edinburgh--it's still around.



Heliophilum sp.

This was perennial and glorious and lasted several years...I forgot to harvest seed. One of the plants I most regret losing from my South African expeditions...

Hermannia "stricta" on Hantamsberg

Probably not really stricta...this won many prizes when shown at AGS shows in Britain over the last few decades...



Hermannia "stricta" on the Karoo

A horrible picture of what probably IS stricta taken on the karoo...


Hermannia sp. on pass east of Cradock, East Cape

This one was photographed high enough it may be hardy!



Hesperochiron pumilus (and friends)

This was in a trough for a few years. I wish I could recreate this picture!--the white star gentian makes an interesting twin...

Rose Mallows (Hibiscus moscheutos)

I love these things--if I only had a place to grow them...

Holothrix cf thodei?

And orchid. And rather homely. Would love to grow it nonetheless...



Hymenoxys lapidicola and Lesquerella alpina

A nice color combo, no? I still grow both of these, but they don't look this good any more...


Hypericum cerastoides

I have seen this the wild--and still have one or two struggling in the garden. One of my faves...



Hypericum sp.

Long ago lost this and its name as well...



Juniperus excelsa in Pakistan Himalaya

Somebody had to keep warm and cut this ancient juniper...

Juniperus excelsa in Pakistan Himalaya

And this one two--notice the forest beyond for scale...



Juniperus turkestanica in Pakistan Himalaya

They haven't quite gotten to this one yet...



Jurinea sp. in bud

It was monocarpic, and I neglected to save and sow seed...

Jurinea sp. in bud

I think I prefer it in bud!


Lachenalia sp. on the Roggeveld, Karoo

I only saw a few lachenalias at high elevations: boy would I love to grow this one outside!



Lamium eriophilum

This incredible endemic of the Toros Dag really needs no comment. One year I had hundreds of self sown seedlings...



NOT Leontice, but filed here in error: check back for the REAL name
(Henrik Zetterlund corrected me...now to find his correction)..



Leontopodium nivale

It's fashionable to grouse about Eidelweiss...there are in fact dozens of spectacular species in the Himalayas, but this European is undeniably stunning...



Leucojum vernum v. carpaticum

I grew this superbly in several gardens. But in my current garden it grows but won't bloom...



Lilium candidum

For years I drove by and admired these lilies in June. Then one day they were gone and replaced with something pedestrian and I ignore the yard as I go by...(every day just about)...


Lilium formosanum pricei and Scrophularia macrantha

One of my more inspired combos--now long gone (don't even remember where I planted this...) Oh yes! It was early at Quince (I recognize the background now)...



Linanthastrum nuttallii

You can walk through acres of this on Rabbitears pass in late June or July. And we grew it for years in this garden. It and the garden are no more...I think they changed the plant's name as well..

Linum aretioides

I wish I still had this Turkish delight...



Loasa lateritia

A token of one of the most magical days in my lifetime--above Laguna del Maule, where I walked through acres of rosulate violets ankle deep--and this was on a steep scree overlooking paradise.



Lobelia x vedrariensis

These lasted a few years...a long time ago!



Lysichiton americanum

Another day I shall not forget in late April 1981 at Savill Gardens. Possibly the most wonderful garden visit I have ever had. Late afternoon--golden light and almost no other visitors. Somewhere I have pictures of glades full of this species of narcissus or that one--and the only slide scanned so far is this stretch of stream--on the other side it was all white the Russian cousin...I would like to go back to that most magnificent of English gardens one more time in the spring.....